National MVWDW Information

EPA banned the use of motor vehicle waste disposal wells (MVWDW) nationwide, as well as in Alaska and in Indian Country in Region 10, to help protect drinking water resources. If your facility has a motor vehicle waste disposal well, please contact EPA to assess your underground waste disposal activity and to coordinate closure activities as needed.

Why EPA is concernedDuring vehicle repair and maintenance activities fluids can drip, spill, or otherwise enter the floor drains or sinks in service areas. If the floor drains and/or sinks are connected to a septic system, dry well, log crib, drain tank, or any other type of underground disposal system, waste fluids may be entering your drinking water.

What is underground injection?Generally speaking,injection is any process that disposes of fluids underground. Injection wells are used to dispose of a variety of fluids underground. Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wellsare injection wells that receive, or have ever received, waste fluids from motor vehicles.

Please note: Motor vehicle waste disposal wells are categorized by the type of waste received, not by the construction or shape of the well.

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Examples of fluids that should NOT be disposed of into injection wells

What should you do if you have a Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well?Due to the risk to human health your injection well should be permanently closed in a way that will not cause further contamination. Contact EPA to further assess your injection activity and to coordinate pre- and post-closure activities as needed. Well Closure Guidelines The following actions are likely to meet closure requirements for motor vehicle waste disposal wells. Please contact EPA for review prior to initiating the closure activities.

Q: What is a motor vehicle waste disposal well?Q: How do I know if I have a motor vehicle waste disposal well?Q: Do I have to register my floor drain?

A: It depends on where the drain’s outlet is. If the drain is connected to an injection well you must register your well with EPA.

Q: I have a floor drain, but I never use it. Am I required to provide inventory information?Q: What if I need to keep my floor drain open for snow melt?Q: What if the sanitary waste (bathroom) goes to the public sewer system, but the floor drains in the garage or maintenance/...Q: I have an oil/water separator that the waste water from my vehicle maintenance facility runs through before it goes into ...Q: Why do I have to close my motor vehicle waste disposal well?

A: The federal regulations require that all of these systems must be closed (or permanently converted to some other use). The regulations for the closure of these underground drainage systems are necessary to help prevent the contamination of underground sources of drinking water. It's also a way for you to reduce future liability.

Q: What gives EPA the right to require I close my motor vehicle waste disposal well?Q: I already closed my Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well, what do I have to do?Q: What if I only lease this facility/space?Q: What if I have more than one facility?